BHUBANESWAR: The State government has begun the process of handing over the management of 60 primary health centres (PHCs) to voluntary organisations, private agencies and corporate houses in the first phase of public-private partnership (PPP) initiative in the health sector.

"We are seeking the participation of voluntary organisations to manage PHCs in selected difficult and distant pockets of the State. Initially, we are going for two PHCs from each district and later on the experiment will be replicated in other areas depending on the response," says Sushil Kumar Lohani, Director of National Rural Health Mission.

The NRHM floated the expression of interest to implement the programme. Mr. Lohani said that the programme would be extended to 120 health sub-centres, which were being managed by health workers.

Funds allocation

"We will pay up to 75 per cent of the management cost while the rest has to be mobilised by the NGO either from their own funds or other endowments," Mr. Lohani said.

As per the government guidelines, Rs. 6 lakhs is spent annually to manage a PHC and Rs. 1 lakh for a sub-centre. "However, private parties cannot avail themselves of the full amount for all the PHCs. Funds will be made available on the basis of existing infrastructure of the PHCs," he said.

The private agencies, responsible for managing a PHC, would recruit staff, including doctors.

As per the concept note of the PPP model, the voluntary organisation would take up innovative projects, including community health insurance, awareness campaign on HIV/AIDS, raising herbal gardens, appointment of AYUSH doctors, health management information system and improving community participation in future.

`Successful' experiment

Before gearing up to hand over 60 PHCs, three pilot projects were worked out in Dhenkanal, Jajpur and Bhadrak districts.

"The experiment has been successful. The three PHCs which are being managed by NGOs for last one year, are now visited by more patients than before. The quality of service has also improved," Manoranjan Mishra, State NGO coordinator for health and family welfare, claimed.

Sources, however, painted a gloomy picture on the whole process. Since funds being provided by the government appeared to be inadequate, not many big NGOs were showing interest to take up the challenge. The government is operating some 1200 PHCs and 6000 health sub-centres.

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